Gaming system, gaming device and gaming method providing player physical activation of the symbol generator

ABSTRACT

A gaming device and method which includes a symbol generator which includes a plurality of symbols. The gaming device enables the player to actuate or to physically move the symbol generator. After the symbol generator is moving, the gaming device randomly determines a symbol to indicate on the symbol generator. The gaming device then continues the movement of the symbol generator to indicate the determined symbol and provides any awards associated with the indicated symbol to the player.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains or maycontain material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyrightowner has no objection to the photocopy reproduction by anyone of thepatent document or the patent disclosure in exactly the form it appearsin the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwisereserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

Gaming device manufacturers strive to make gaming devices that provideas much enjoyment, entertainment and excitement as possible. Providinginteresting and exciting primary games and secondary games in which aplayer has an opportunity to win potentially large awards or credits isone way to enhance player enjoyment and excitement.

Certain known gaming devices use mechanical devices such as mechanicalreels, mechanical wheels and mechanical dice to enhance playerattraction of these gaming machines and also to enhance the player'sgame playing experience. Such mechanical devices enable a player to seephysical movements of the mechanical device displaying a game, a portionof a game, symbols of a game or a functional game event or element whichincreases the player's enjoyment of the game. However, the player is notallowed to physically touch the mechanical device (such as a reel, awheel or a dice) to actuate or activate the mechanical device. Thegaming devices typically require the player to touch or activate abutton or touch screen to actuate or activate the mechanical device.These gaming machines typically make a random determination of a gameoutcome and cause the mechanical device to indicate the game outcome orpart of the game outcome.

To increase player enjoyment and excitement and provide increased playerinteraction with gaming devices, it is desirable to provide new anddifferent display devices for gaming devices and systems.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed towards a gaming system, gamingdevice and method which includes a mechanical symbol generator whichdisplays a plurality of symbols. The gaming system or device enables theplayer to initiate the movement of the mechanical symbol generator byphysically touching the symbol generator to start or cause the movementof the symbol generator. In one embodiment, after the mechanical symbolgenerator is moving, the gaming system or device determines a symbol toindicate on the symbol generator. The gaming system or device controlsthe movement of the symbol generator to indicate the determined symboland provides any awards associated with the indicated symbol to theplayer.

More specifically, in one embodiment, the gaming device includes amechanical wheel which includes a plurality of sections, each sectionincluding a symbol or an outcome. Upon game initiation, the gamingdevice enables the player to physically actuate or initiate the movementof the mechanical wheel. That is, the gaming device enables the playerto grasp the wheel or a handle or other attachment of the wheel to spinthe wheel. After the player initiates the movement of the wheel, thegaming device randomly determines one of the sections or symbols toindicate on the wheel. In other embodiments, the gaming device randomlydetermines one of the sections or symbols to indicate on the wheelbefore the player initiates movement of the wheel or while the player isinitiating movement of the wheel. The gaming device stops the movementof the wheel to indicate the determined symbol or section. That is, thegaming device then determines the symbol or section to indicate andterminates movement of the wheel to stop. The gaming device indicatesthe determined symbol or section. The gaming device provides any awardsassociated with the indicated symbol or section to the player. Enablingthe player to physically actuate the mechanical wheel and determine thespeed of the movement of the wheel provides players with a sense ofcontrol over the game results. However, after the player physicallyinitiates the movement of the wheel, the gaming device randomlydetermines the game result which in one embodiment is independent of theplayer input. In an alternative embodiment, the gaming device at leastpartially bases the game result on the player movement of the mechanicaldevices.

In one embodiment, the symbol generator is a mechanical symbol generatorthat includes one or more position sensors, such as an optical sensor,and a drive motor. The gaming device monitors each sensor using asuitable algorithm. Upon initiation of the symbol generator by theplayer, the gaming device determines if a predetermined amount ofmovement is made by the symbol generator. For example, the symbolgenerator must complete three full rotations. After the predeterminedamount of movement is made, the gaming device determines a stop positionor a section or an outcome to indicate. In one embodiment, the gamingdevice uses the drive motor to continue the movement of the symbolgenerator. In one embodiment, the gaming device monitors the movement ofthe symbol generator using one or more position sensors. In oneembodiment, the gaming device uses a suitable brake which is coupled tothe symbol generator to stop the movement of the symbol generator at thedetermined stop position, section or outcome.

In one embodiment, if upon initiation of the symbol generator by theplayer, the gaming device determines that a predetermined amount ofmovement is not made by the symbol generator, the gaming deviceinstructs the player to move or spin the symbol generator again. Forexample, the gaming device instructs the player to re-spin the symbolgenerator and to use more force when spinning the symbol generator. Itshould be appreciated that the player may be required to cause anysuitable amount of movement to continue the game including the symbolgenerator.

In one embodiment, the gaming device enables the player to initiatemovement of an indicator or a symbol generator. The gaming deviceinitiates movement of the other of the devices. For example, a playerinitiates movement of the symbol generator. The gaming device theninitiates movement of the indicator. The gaming device determines one ofthe symbols or sections to indicate before, during or after at least oneof the indicator or the symbol generator moves. In one embodiment, thegaming device stops or slows the movement of at least one of theindicator or the symbol generator to indicate the determined symbol orsection. The gaming device then provides the player any award associatedwith that symbol or section.

In one embodiment, the symbol generator is a shared symbol generator orcommunity award generator associated with a plurality of gaming devices.In this embodiment, upon a triggering event at one of the gamingdevices, the gaming system enables one of the players to physically moveor spin the shared symbol generator. In one embodiment, while the sharedsymbol generator is moving as a result of the player, the gaming systemdetermines one of the symbols or sections to indicate when the sharedsymbol generator stops spinning. The gaming system continues to move orrotate the shared symbol generator and stops the movement of the sharedsymbol generator to indicate the determined symbol or section. Thegaming system provides at least the player that spins the shared symbolgenerator an award.

It should be appreciated that the symbol generator may be any suitablemechanical symbol generator, including but not limited to, a wheel, acone, a sphere, a reel, a ring, a disk and a die. It should also beappreciated that the symbol generator may be any suitable shapeincluding but not limited to a cone, a circle, a semi-circle, an oval, arectangle, a triangle, a hexagon, an octagon, a pentagon, a diamond, alinear configuration, an indented oval, and a curved configuration.

It should be appreciated that the symbol generator may be employed in aprimary game and/or a secondary game.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from, the following Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C are diagrammatic front perspective views ofalternative embodiments of gaming devices disclosed herein.

FIG. 2A is a schematic block diagram of the electronic configuration ofone embodiment of a gaming device disclosed herein.

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of the central server in communicationwith a plurality of gaming devices in accordance with one embodiment ofthe gaming system disclosed herein.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating one method of one embodiment of aplay of the game enabling the player to initiate movement of a symbolgenerator, determining a stop position for the symbol generator and thencontinuing movement of the symbol generator to the determined stopposition.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D are diagrammatic front perspective views of oneembodiment of the present disclosure which includes a mechanical symbolgenerator having a handle that enables the player to physically spin thesymbol generator.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrammatic front perspective views of oneembodiment of a gaming device of the present disclosure that enables theplayer to physically move the symbol generator and then moves the symbolgenerator backwards to protect the symbol generator from a playerfurther actuating the symbol generator.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are side diagrammatic views one embodiment of a gamingdevice of the present disclosure that enables the player to physicallymove the symbol generator and then retracts the handle and closes theprotective cover to protect the symbol generator from a player furtheractuating the symbol generator.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D are diagrammatic front perspective views of oneembodiment of a gaming device of the present disclosure that enables theplayer to physically move the indicator.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D and 8E are diagrammatic front perspective views ofone embodiment of a gaming device of the present disclosure that enablesthe player to physically move the indicator or the symbol generator, andwhere the gaming device initiates movement of the non-initiatedindicator or symbol generator.

FIG. 9A is a diagrammatic top perspective view of one embodiment of ashared display and associated system of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9B is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of theelectronic configuration for a shared display system.

FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C are diagrammatic perspective views of oneembodiment of the shared display with a top portion of the displayremoved to show a supporting frame, and portions thereof, respectively.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are bottom and top perspective views of one embodimentof an award or outcome displaying part of the shared display havingreplaceable award or outcome display panels.

FIG. 11C is a fragmentary perspective view of the award or outcomedisplay panels attached to the frame of the shared display.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure may be implemented in various configurations forgaming machines, gaming devices or gaming systems, including but notlimited to: (1) a dedicated gaming machine, gaming device, or gamingsystem wherein the computerized instructions for controlling any games(which are provided by the gaming machine or gaming device) are providedwith the gaming machine or gaming device prior to delivery to a gamingestablishment; and (2) a changeable gaming machine, gaming device, orgaming system where the computerized instructions for controlling anygames (which are provided by the gaming machine or gaming device) aredownloadable to the gaming machine or gaming device through a datanetwork when the gaming machine or gaming device is in a gamingestablishment. In one embodiment, the computerized instructions forcontrolling any games are executed by at least one central server,central controller or remote host. In such a “thin client” embodiment,the central server remotely controls any games (or other suitableinterfaces) and the gaming device is utilized to display such games (orsuitable interfaces) and receive one or more inputs or commands from aplayer. In another embodiment, the computerized instructions forcontrolling any games are communicated from the central server, centralcontroller or remote host to a gaming device local processor and memorydevices. In such a “thick client” embodiment, the gaming device localprocessor executes the communicated computerized instructions to controlany games (or other suitable interfaces) provided to a player.

In one embodiment, one or more gaming devices in a gaming system may bethin client gaming devices and one or more gaming devices in the gamingsystem may be thick client gaming devices. In another embodiment,certain functions of the gaming device are implemented in a thin clientenvironment and certain other functions of the gaming device areimplemented in a thick client environment. In one such embodiment,computerized instructions for controlling any primary games arecommunicated from the central server to the gaming device in a thickclient configuration and computerized instructions for controlling anysecondary games or bonus functions are executed by a central server in athin client configuration.

Referring now to the drawings, three example alternative embodiments ofthe gaming device of the disclosed herein are illustrated in FIGS. 1A,1B and 1C, as gaming device 10 a and gaming device 10 c, respectively.Gaming device 10 a and/or gaming device 10 b and/or gaming device 10 care generally referred to herein as gaming device 10.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, gaming device 10has a support structure, housing or cabinet which provides support for aplurality of displays, inputs, controls and other features of aconventional gaming machine. It is configured so that a player canoperate it while standing or sitting. The gaming device may bepositioned on a base or stand or can be configured as a pub-styletable-top game (not shown) which a player can operate preferably whilesitting. As illustrated by the different configurations shown in FIGS.1A, 1B and 1C, the gaming device may have varying cabinet and displayconfigurations.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, the gaming devicepreferably includes at least one processor 12, such as a microprocessor,a microcontroller-based platform, a suitable integrated circuit or oneor more application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC's). The processoris in communication with or operable to access or to exchange signalswith at least one data storage or memory device 14. In one embodiment,the processor and the memory device reside within the cabinet of thegaming device. The memory device stores program code and instructions,executable by the processor, to control the gaming device. The memorydevice also stores other data such as image data, event data, playerinput data, random or pseudo-random number generators, pay-table data orinformation and applicable game rules that relate to the play of thegaming device. In one embodiment, the memory device includes randomaccess memory (RAM), which can include non-volatile RAM (NVRAM),magnetic RAM (MRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM) and other forms ascommonly understood in the gaming industry. In one embodiment, thememory device includes read only memory (ROM). In one embodiment, thememory device includes flash memory and/or EEPROM (electrically erasableprogrammable read only memory). Any other suitable magnetic, opticaland/or semiconductor memory may operate in conjunction with the gamingdevice disclosed herein.

In one embodiment, part or all of the program code and/or operating datadescribed above can be stored in a detachable or removable memorydevice, including, but not limited to, a suitable cartridge, disk, CDROM, DVD or USB memory device. In other embodiments, part or all of theprogram code and/or operating data described above can be downloaded tothe memory device through a suitable network.

It should be appreciated that a gaming device or gaming machine asdisclosed herein may be a device that has obtained approval from aregulatory gaming commission or a device that has not obtained approvalfrom a regulatory gaming commission. It should be appreciated that theprocessor and memory device may be collectively referred to herein as a“computer” or “controller.”

In one embodiment, as discussed in more detail below, the gaming devicerandomly generates awards and/or other game outcomes based onprobability data. In one such embodiment, this random determination isprovided through utilization of a random number generator (RNG), such asa true random number generator, a pseudo random number generator orother suitable randomization process. In one embodiment, each award orother game outcome is associated with a probability and the gamingdevice generates the award or other game outcome to be provided to theplayer based on the associated probabilities. In this embodiment, sincethe gaming device generates outcomes randomly or based upon one or moreprobability calculations, there is no certainty that the gaming devicewill ever provide the player with any specific award or other gameoutcome.

In another embodiment, as discussed in more detail below, the gamingdevice employs a predetermined or finite set or pool of awards or othergame outcomes. In this embodiment, as each award or other game outcomeis provided to the player, the gaming device flags or removes theprovided award or other game outcome from the predetermined set or pool.Once flagged or removed from the set or pool, the specific providedaward or other game outcome from that specific pool cannot be providedto the player again. This type of gaming device provides players withall of the available awards or other game outcomes over the course ofthe play cycle and guarantees the amount of actual wins and losses.

In another embodiment, as discussed below, upon a player initiating gameplay at the gaming device, the gaming device enrolls in a bingo game. Inthis embodiment, a bingo server calls the bingo balls that result in aspecific bingo game outcome. The resultant game outcome is communicatedto the individual gaming device to be provided to a player. In oneembodiment, this bingo outcome is displayed to the player as a bingogame and/or in any form in accordance with the present disclosure.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, the gaming device includesone or more display devices controlled by the processor. The displaydevices are preferably connected to or mounted to the cabinet of thegaming device. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B includes acentral display device 16 which displays a primary game. This displaydevice may also display any suitable secondary game associated with theprimary game as well as information relating to the primary or secondarygame. The alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 1C includes a centraldisplay device 16 and an upper display device 18. The upper displaydevice may display the primary game, any suitable secondary gameassociated or not associated with the primary game and/or informationrelating to the primary or secondary game. These display devices mayalso serve as digital glass operable to advertise games or other aspectsof the gaming establishment. As seen in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, in oneembodiment, the gaming device includes a credit display 20 whichdisplays a player's current number of credits, cash, account balance orthe equivalent. In one embodiment, the gaming device includes a betdisplay 22 which displays a player's amount wagered. In one embodiment,as described in more detail below, the gaming device includes a playertracking display 40 which displays information regarding a player'splaying tracking status.

In another embodiment, at least one display device may be a mobiledisplay device, such as a PDA or tablet PC, that enables play of atleast a portion of the primary or secondary game at a location remotefrom the gaming device.

The display devices may include, without limitation, a monitor, atelevision display, a plasma display, a liquid crystal display (LCD) adisplay based on light emitting diodes (LED), a display based on aplurality of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), a display based onpolymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs), a display based on a plurality ofsurface-conduction electron-emitters (SEDs), a display including aprojected and/or reflected image or any other suitable electronic deviceor display mechanism. In one embodiment, as described in more detailbelow, the display device includes a touch-screen with an associatedtouch-screen controller. The display devices may be of any suitable sizeand configuration, such as a square, a rectangle or an elongatedrectangle.

The display devices of the gaming device are configured to display atleast one and preferably a plurality of game or other suitable images,symbols and indicia such as any visual representation or exhibition ofthe movement of objects such as mechanical, dynamic lighting, videoimages, images of people, characters, places, things and faces of cards,and the like.

In one embodiment, the symbols, images and indicia displayed on or ofthe display device are in mechanical form 210 a as illustrated in FIGS.1A and 1B. That is, the display device may include any electromechanicaldevice, such as one or more mechanical objects, such as one or morerotatable wheels, reels or dice, configured to display at least one or aplurality of game or other suitable images, symbols, outcomes orindicia.

In one embodiment, the mechanical symbol generator is coupled to a motorcontrolled by a controller or processor. In one embodiment, the motor isa stepper motor or other servo-type motor that can with a brakeaccurately position the symbol generator to indicate the randomlydetermined outcomes for the symbol generator. In another embodiment, thegaming system does not include a brake. For example, in one embodiment,the symbol generator includes pegs and the gaming system includes one ormore devices that slows the movement of the symbol generator by creatingresistance to the pegs. A stepper or servo motor is controllable to setone or more accelerations and/or decelerations, one or more velocities,a number of spins or distance traveled, and a number of directionalchanges. The symbol generator can perform a complex sequence of stops,starts and direction changes, or simply spin at different rates of speedand, for example, ramp up and ramp down from and to a zero angularvelocity, according to a desired linear or bell-type velocity curve. Inanother embodiment, the motor is a gear drive motor that runs until asignal tells a controller of the motor to stop.

In one embodiment, the symbol generator includes dividers between eachof the sections that can provide pulses or signals when sensed by apositioning device that is situated in a fixed relationship to thesymbol generator. In one embodiment, one or more of dividers passing bythe sensor can be sensed to determine an actual position and/or numberof rotations of the symbol generator. The actual positional feedback canbe used alone or in combination to determine when and where to stop themovement of the symbol generator. For example, the positional feedbackcan be used to tell the controller of the gear drive motor to stop themotor. In an alternative embodiment, the pulses generated from thesensing of one of the dividers are used to compare against a number ofstep pulses or other electronic signals sent to the motor driving shaftand the symbol generator. Control of the symbol generators of thepresent disclosure can be open loop, closed loop and/or a combination ofboth.

In one embodiment, an optical wheel is connected directly or indirectlyto and spins with an output shaft of the motor. An optical sensor isfixed to a structural area around the motor and is used in combinationwith the optical wheel to send a signal to a controller. The signal canbe analog or digital and is indicative of the position of the symbolgenerator with respect to a home position. In one embodiment, theoptical wheel that includes a circumferential series of notches ofdiffering widths and frequencies, which create unique patterns of lightdetected by the optical sensor for various positions of the symbolgenerator with respect to the optical sensor and/or the home position.The optical wheel and the optical sensor in one embodiment form anabsolute or incremental encoder as known to those of skill in the art.

The signal is used in one embodiment in combination with a brake orclutch-brake assembly to stop the motor and the symbol generator at thedesired and randomly determined position, symbol or section. The brakeor clutch brake assembly may be any suitable device operable to stop orslow the movement of the symbol generator.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, in one embodiment, the gaming device includesat least one payment device 24 in communication with the processor. Asseen in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a payment device such as a payment acceptorincludes a note, ticket or bill acceptor 28 wherein the player insertspaper money, a ticket or voucher and a coin slot 26 where the playerinserts money, coins, or tokens. In other embodiments, payment devicessuch as readers or validators for credit cards, debit cards or creditslips may accept payment. In one embodiment, a player may insert anidentification card into a card reader of the gaming device. In oneembodiment, the identification card is a smart card having a programmedmicrochip or a magnetic strip coded with a player's identification,credit totals (or related data) and other relevant information. Inanother embodiment, a player may carry a portable device, such as a cellphone, a radio frequency identification tag or any other suitablewireless device, which communicates a player's identification, credittotals (or related data) and other relevant information to the gamingdevice. In one embodiment, money may be transferred to a gaming devicethrough electronic funds transfer. When a player funds the gamingdevice, the processor determines the amount of funds entered anddisplays the corresponding amount on the credit or other suitabledisplay as described above.

As seen in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2A, in one embodiment the gaming deviceincludes at least one and preferably a plurality of input devices 30 incommunication with the processor. The input devices can include anysuitable device which enables the player to produce an input signalwhich is received by the processor. In one embodiment, after appropriatefunding of the gaming device, the input device is a game activationdevice, such as a play button 32 or a pull arm (not shown) which is usedby the player to start any primary game or sequence of events in thegaming device. The play button can be any suitable play activator suchas a bet one button, a max bet button or a repeat the bet button. In oneembodiment, upon appropriate funding, the gaming device begins the gameplay automatically. In another embodiment, upon the player engaging oneof the play buttons, the gaming device automatically activates gameplay.

In one embodiment, one input device is a bet one button. The playerplaces a bet by pushing the bet one button. The player can increase thebet by one credit each time the player pushes the bet one button. Whenthe player pushes the bet one button, the number of credits shown in thecredit display preferably decreases by one, and the number of creditsshown in the bet display preferably increases by one. In anotherembodiment, one input device is a bet max button (not shown) whichenables the player to bet the maximum wager permitted for a game of thegaming device.

In one embodiment, one input device is a cash out button 34. The playermay push the cash out button and cash out to receive a cash payment orother suitable form of payment corresponding to the number of remainingcredits. In one embodiment, when the player cashes out, a paymentdevice, such as a ticket, payment or note generator 36 prints orotherwise generates a ticket or credit slip to provide to the player.The player receives the ticket or credit slip and may redeem the valueassociated with the ticket or credit slip via a cashier (or othersuitable redemption system). In another embodiment, when the playercashes out, the player receives the coins or tokens in a coin payouttray. It should be appreciated that any suitable payout mechanisms, suchas funding to the player's electronically recordable identification cardmay be implemented in accordance with the gaming device disclosedherein.

In one embodiment, as mentioned above and seen in FIG. 2A, one inputdevice is a touch-screen 42 coupled with a touch-screen controller 44,or some other touch-sensitive display overlay to allow for playerinteraction with the images on the display. The touch-screen and thetouch-screen controller are connected to a video controller 46. A playercan make decisions and input signals into the gaming device by touchingthe touch-screen at the appropriate places. One such input device is aconventional touch-screen button panel.

The gaming device may further include a plurality of communication portsfor enabling communication of the processor with external peripherals,such as external video sources, expansion buses, game or other displays,an SCSI port or a key pad.

In one embodiment, as seen in FIG. 2A, the gaming device includes asound generating device controlled by one or more sounds cards 48 whichfunction in conjunction with the processor. In one embodiment, the soundgenerating device includes at least one and preferably a plurality ofspeakers 50 or other sound generating hardware and/or software forgenerating sounds, such as playing music for the primary and/orsecondary game or for other modes of the gaming device, such as anattract mode. In one embodiment, the gaming device provides dynamicsounds coupled with attractive multimedia images displayed on one ormore of the display devices to provide an audio-visual representation orto otherwise display full-motion video with sound to attract players tothe gaming device. During idle periods, the gaming device may display asequence of audio and/or visual attraction messages to attract potentialplayers to the gaming device. The videos may also be customized for orto provide any appropriate information.

In one embodiment, the gaming machine may include a sensor, such as acamera in communication with the processor (and possibly controlled bythe processor) that is selectively positioned to acquire an image of aplayer actively using the gaming device and/or the surrounding area ofthe gaming device. In one embodiment, the camera may be configured toselectively acquire still or moving (e.g., video) images and may beconfigured to acquire the images in either an analog, digital or othersuitable format. The display devices may be configured to display theimage acquired by the camera as well as display the visiblemanifestation of the game in split screen or picture-in-picture fashion.For example, the camera may acquire an image of the player and theprocessor may incorporate that image into the primary and/or secondarygame as a game image, symbol or indicia.

Gaming device 10 can incorporate any suitable wagering primary or basegame. The gaming machine or device may include some or all of thefeatures of conventional gaming machines or devices. The primary or basegame may comprise any suitable reel-type game, card game, cascading orfalling symbol game, number game or other game of chance susceptible torepresentation in an electronic or electromechanical form, which in oneembodiment produces a random outcome based on probability data at thetime of or after placement of a wager. That is, different primarywagering games, such as video poker games, video blackjack games, videokeno, video bingo or any other suitable primary or base game may beimplemented.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a base or primarygame may be a slot game with one or more paylines 52. The paylines maybe horizontal, vertical, circular, diagonal, angled or any combinationthereof. In this embodiment, the gaming device includes at least one andpreferably a plurality of reels 54, such as three to five reels 54, ineither electromechanical form with mechanical rotating reels or videoform with simulated reels and movement thereof. In one embodiment, anelectromechanical slot machine includes a plurality of adjacent,rotatable reels which may be combined and operably coupled with anelectronic display of any suitable type. In another embodiment, if thereels 54 are in video form, one or more of the display devices, asdescribed above, display the plurality of simulated video reels 54. Eachreel 54 displays a plurality of indicia or symbols, such as bells,hearts, fruits, numbers, letters, bars or other images which preferablycorrespond to a theme associated with the gaming device. In anotherembodiment, one or more of the reels are independent reels or unisymbolreels. In this embodiment, each independent or unisymbol reel generatesand displays one symbol to the player. In one embodiment, the gamingdevice awards prizes after the reels of the primary game stop spinningif specified types and/or configurations of indicia or symbols occur onan active payline or otherwise occur in a winning pattern, occur on therequisite number of adjacent reels and/or occur in a scatter payarrangement.

In an alternative embodiment, rather than determining any outcome toprovide to the player by analyzing the symbols generated on any wageredupon paylines as described above, the gaming device determines anyoutcome to provide to the player based on the number of associatedsymbols which are generated in active symbol positions on the requisitenumber of adjacent reels (i.e., not on paylines passing through anydisplayed winning symbol combinations). In this embodiment, if a winningsymbol combination is generated on the reels, the gaming device providesthe player one award for that occurrence of the generated winning symbolcombination. For example, if one winning symbol combination is generatedon the reels, the gaming device will provide a single award to theplayer for that winning symbol combination (i.e., not based on thenumber of paylines that would have passed through that winning symbolcombination). It should be appreciated that because a gaming device withwagering on ways to win provides the player one award for a singleoccurrence of a winning symbol combination and a gaming device withpaylines may provide the player more than one award for the sameoccurrence of a single winning symbol combination (i.e., if a pluralityof paylines each pass through the same winning symbol combination), itis possible to provide a player at a ways to win gaming device with moreways to win for an equivalent bet or wager on a traditional slot gamingdevice with paylines.

In one embodiment, the total number of ways to win is determined bymultiplying the number of symbols generated in active symbol positionson a first reel by the number of symbols generated in active symbolpositions on a second reel by the number of symbols generated in activesymbol positions on a third reel and so on for each reel of the gamingdevice with at least one symbol generated in an active symbol position.For example, a three reel gaming device with three symbols generated inactive symbol positions on each reel includes 27 ways to win (i.e., 3symbols on the first reel×3 symbols on the second reel×3 symbols on thethird reel). A four reel gaming device with three symbols generated inactive symbol positions on each reel includes 81 ways to win (i.e., 3symbols on the first reel×3 symbols on the second reel×3 symbols on thethird reel×3 symbols on the fourth reel). A five reel gaming device withthree symbols generated in active symbol positions on each reel includes243 ways to win (i.e., 3 symbols on the first reel×3 symbols on thesecond reel×3 symbols on the third reel×3 symbols on the fourth reel×3symbols on the fifth reel). It should be appreciated that modifying thenumber of generated symbols by either modifying the number of reels ormodifying the number of symbols generated in active symbol positions byone or more of the reels, modifies the number of ways to win.

In another embodiment, the gaming device enables a player to wager onand thus activate symbol positions. In one such embodiment, the symbolpositions are on the reels. In this embodiment, if based on the player'swager, a reel is activated, then each of the symbol positions of thatreel will be activated and each of the active symbol positions will bepart of one or more of the ways to win. In one embodiment, if based onthe player's wager, a reel is not activated, then a designated number ofdefault symbol positions, such as a single symbol position of the middlerow of the reel, will be activated and the default symbol position(s)will be part of one or more of the ways to win. This type of gamingmachine enables a player to wager on one, more or each of the reels andthe processor of the gaming device uses the number of wagered on reelsto determine the active symbol positions and the number of possible waysto win. In alternative embodiments, (1) no symbols are displayed asgenerated at any of the inactive symbol positions, or (2) any symbolsgenerated at any inactive symbol positions may be displayed to theplayer but suitably shaded or otherwise designated as inactive.

In one embodiment wherein a player wagers on one or more reels, aplayer's wager of one credit may activate each of the three symbolpositions on a first reel, wherein one default symbol position isactivated on each of the remaining four reels. In this example, asdescribed above, the gaming device provides the player three ways to win(i.e., 3 symbols on the first reel×1 symbol on the second reel×1 symbolon the third reel×1 symbol on the fourth reel×1 symbol on the fifthreel). In another example, a player's wager of nine credits may activateeach of the three symbol positions on a first reel, each of the threesymbol positions on a second reel and each of the three symbol positionson a third reel wherein one default symbol position is activated on eachof the remaining two reels. In this example, as described above, thegaming device provides the player twenty-seven ways to win (i.e., 3symbols on the first reel×3 symbols on the second reel×3 symbols on thethird reel×1 symbol on the fourth reel×1 symbol on the fifth reel).

In one embodiment, to determine any award(s) to provide to the playerbased on the generated symbols, the gaming device individuallydetermines if a symbol generated in an active symbol position on a firstreel forms part of a winning symbol combination with or is otherwisesuitably related to a symbol generated in an active symbol position on asecond reel. In this embodiment, the gaming device classifies each pairof symbols which form part of a winning symbol combination (i.e., eachpair of related symbols) as a string of related symbols. For example, ifactive symbol positions include a first cherry symbol generated in thetop row of a first reel and a second cherry symbol generated in thebottom row of a second reel, the gaming device classifies the two cherrysymbols as a string of related symbols because the two cherry symbolsform part of a winning symbol combination.

After determining if any strings of related symbols are formed betweenthe symbols on the first reel and the symbols on the second reel, thegaming device determines if any of the symbols from the next adjacentreel should be added to any of the formed strings of related symbols. Inthis embodiment, for a first of the classified strings of relatedsymbols, the gaming device determines if any of the symbols generated bythe next adjacent reel form part of a winning symbol combination or areotherwise related to the symbols of the first string of related symbols.If the gaming device determines that a symbol generated on the nextadjacent reel is related to the symbols of the first string of relatedsymbols, that symbol is subsequently added to the first string ofrelated symbols. For example, if the first string of related symbols isthe string of related cherry symbols and a related cherry symbol isgenerated in the middle row of the third reel, the gaming device addsthe related cherry symbol generated on the third reel to the previouslyclassified string of cherry symbols.

On the other hand, if the gaming device determines that no symbolsgenerated on the next adjacent reel are related to the symbols of thefirst string of related symbols, the gaming device marks or flags suchstring of related symbols as complete. For example, if the first stringof related symbols is the string of related cherry symbols and none ofthe symbols of the third reel are related to the cherry symbols of thepreviously classified string of cherry symbols, the gaming device marksor flags the string of cherry symbols as complete.

After either adding a related symbol to the first string of relatedsymbols or marking the first string of related symbols as complete, thegaming device proceeds as described above for each of the remainingclassified strings of related symbols which were previously classifiedor formed from related symbols on the first and second reels.

After analyzing each of the remaining strings of related symbols, thegaming device determines, for each remaining pending or incompletestring of related symbols, if any of the symbols from the next adjacentreel, if any, should be added to any of the previously classifiedstrings of related symbols. This process continues until either eachstring of related symbols is complete or there are no more adjacentreels of symbols to analyze. In this embodiment, where there are no moreadjacent reels of symbols to analyze, the gaming device marks each ofthe remaining pending strings of related symbols as complete.

When each of the strings of related symbols is marked complete, thegaming device compares each of the strings of related symbols to anappropriate paytable and provides the player any award associated witheach of the completed strings of symbols. It should be appreciated thatthe player is provided one award, if any, for each string of relatedsymbols generated in active symbol positions (i.e., as opposed to beingbased on how many paylines that would have passed through each of thestrings of related symbols in active symbol positions).

In one embodiment, a base or primary game may be a poker game whereinthe gaming device enables the player to play a conventional game ofvideo draw poker and initially deals five cards all face up from avirtual deck of fifty-two card deck. Cards may be dealt as in atraditional game of cards or in the case of the gaming device, may alsoinclude that the cards are randomly selected from a predetermined numberof cards. If the player wishes to draw, the player selects the cards tohold via one or more input device, such as pressing related hold buttonsor via the touch screen. The player then presses the deal button and theunwanted or discarded cards are removed from the display and the gamingmachine deals the replacement cards from the remaining cards in thedeck. This results in a final five-card hand. The gaming device comparesthe final five-card hand to a payout table which utilizes conventionalpoker hand rankings to determine the winning hands. The gaming deviceprovides the player with an award based on a winning hand and thecredits the player wagered.

In another embodiment, the base or primary game may be a multi-handversion of video poker. In this embodiment, the gaming device deals theplayer at least two hands of cards. In one such embodiment, the cardsare the same cards. In one embodiment each hand of cards is associatedwith its own deck of cards. The player chooses the cards to hold in aprimary hand. The held cards in the primary hand are also held in theother hands of cards. The remaining non-held cards are removed from eachhand displayed and for each hand replacement cards are randomly dealtinto that hand. Since the replacement cards are randomly dealtindependently for each hand, the replacement cards for each hand willusually be different. The poker hand rankings are then determined handby hand and awards are provided to the player.

In one embodiment, a base or primary game may be a keno game wherein thegaming device displays a plurality of selectable indicia or numbers onat least one of the display devices. In this embodiment, the playerselects at least one or a plurality of the selectable indicia or numbersvia an input device such as the touch screen. The gaming device thendisplays a series of drawn numbers to determine an amount of matches, ifany, between the player's selected numbers and the gaming device's drawnnumbers. The player is provided an award based on the amount of matches,if any, based on the amount of determined matches and the number ofnumbers drawn.

In one embodiment, in addition to winning credits or other awards in abase or primary game, the gaming device may also give players theopportunity to win credits in a bonus or secondary game or bonus orsecondary round. The bonus or secondary game enables the player toobtain a prize or payout in addition to the prize or payout, if any,obtained from the base or primary game. In general, a bonus or secondarygame produces a significantly higher level of player excitement than thebase or primary game because it provides a greater expectation ofwinning than the base or primary game and is accompanied with moreattractive or unusual features than the base or primary game. In oneembodiment, the bonus or secondary game may be any type of suitablegame, either similar to or completely different from the base or primarygame.

In one embodiment, the triggering event or qualifying condition may be aselected outcome in the primary game or a particular arrangement of oneor more indicia on a display device in the primary game, such as thenumber seven appearing on three adjacent reels along a payline in theprimary slot game embodiment seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B. In otherembodiments, the triggering event or qualifying condition may be byexceeding a certain amount of game play (such as number of games, numberof credits, amount of time), or reaching a specified number of pointsearned during game play.

In another embodiment, the gaming device processor 12 or central server56 randomly provides the player one or more plays of one or moresecondary games. In one such embodiment, the gaming device does notprovide any apparent reasons to the player for qualifying to play asecondary or bonus game. In this embodiment, qualifying for a bonus gameis not triggered by an event in or based specifically on any of theplays of any primary game. That is, the gaming device may simply qualifya player to play a secondary game without any explanation oralternatively with simple explanations. In another embodiment, thegaming device (or central server) qualifies a player for a secondarygame at least partially based on a game triggered or symbol triggeredevent, such as at least partially based on the play of a primary game.

In one embodiment, the gaming device includes a program which willautomatically begin a bonus round after the player has achieved atriggering event or qualifying condition in the base or primary game. Inanother embodiment, after a player has qualified for a bonus game, theplayer may subsequently enhance his/her bonus game participation throughcontinued play on the base or primary game. Thus, for each bonusqualifying event, such as a bonus symbol, that the player obtains, agiven number of bonus game wagering points or credits may be accumulatedin a “bonus meter” programmed to accrue the bonus wagering credits orentries toward eventual participation in a bonus game. The occurrence ofmultiple such bonus qualifying events in the primary game may result inan arithmetic or exponential increase in the number of bonus wageringcredits awarded. In one embodiment, the player may redeem extra bonuswagering credits during the bonus game to extend play of the bonus game.

In one embodiment, no separate entry fee or buy in for a bonus game needbe employed. That is, a player may not purchase an entry into a bonusgame, rather they must win or earn entry through play of the primarygame thus, encouraging play of the primary game. In another embodiment,qualification of the bonus or secondary game is accomplished through asimple “buy in” by the player, for example, if the player has beenunsuccessful at qualifying through other specified activities. Inanother embodiment, the player must make a separate side-wager on thebonus game or wager a designated amount in the primary game to qualifyfor the secondary game. In this embodiment, the secondary gametriggering event must occur and the side-wager (or designated primarygame wager amount) must have been placed to trigger the secondary game.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, one or more of the gamingdevices 10 are in communication with each other and/or at least onecentral server, central controller or remote host 56 through a datanetwork or remote communication link 58. In this embodiment, the centralserver, central controller or remote host is any suitable server orcomputing device which includes at least one processor and at least onememory or storage device. In different such embodiments, the centralserver is a progressive controller or a processor of one of the gamingdevices in the gaming system. In these embodiments, the processor ofeach gaming device is designed to transmit and receive events, messages,commands or any other suitable data or signal between the individualgaming device and the central server. The gaming device processor isoperable to execute such communicated events, messages or commands inconjunction with the operation of the gaming device. Moreover, theprocessor of the central server is designed to transmit and receiveevents, messages, commands or any other suitable data or signal betweenthe central server and each of the individual gaming devices. Thecentral server processor is operable to execute such communicatedevents, messages or commands in conjunction with the operation of thecentral server. It should be appreciated that one, more or each of thefunctions of the central controller as disclosed herein may be performedby one or more gaming device processors. It should be furtherappreciated that one, more or each of the functions of one or moregaming device processors as disclosed herein may be performed by thecentral controller.

In one embodiment, the game outcome provided to the player is determinedby a central server or controller and provided to the player at thegaming device. In this embodiment, each of a plurality of such gamingdevices are in communication with the central server or controller. Upona player initiating game play at one of the gaming devices, theinitiated gaming device communicates a game outcome request to thecentral server or controller.

In one embodiment, the central server or controller receives the gameoutcome request and randomly generates a game outcome for the primarygame based on probability data. In another embodiment, the centralserver or controller randomly generates a game outcome for the secondarygame based on probability data. In another embodiment, the centralserver or controller randomly generates a game outcome for both theprimary game and the secondary game based on probability data. In thisembodiment, the central server or controller is capable of storing andutilizing program code or other data similar to the processor and memorydevice of the gaming device.

In an alternative embodiment, the central server or controller maintainsone or more predetermined pools or sets of predetermined game outcomes.In this embodiment, the central server or controller receives the gameoutcome request and independently selects a predetermined game outcomefrom a set or pool of game outcomes. The central server or controllerflags or marks the selected game outcome as used. Once a game outcome isflagged as used, it is prevented from further selection from the set orpool and cannot be selected by the central controller or server uponanother wager. The provided game outcome can include a primary gameoutcome, a secondary game outcome, primary and secondary game outcomes,or a series of game outcomes such as free games.

The central server or controller communicates the generated or selectedgame outcome to the initiated gaming device. The gaming device receivesthe generated or selected game outcome and provides the game outcome tothe player. In an alternative embodiment, how the generated or selectedgame outcome is to be presented or displayed to the player, such as areel symbol combination of a slot machine or a hand of cards dealt in acard game, is also determined by the central server or controller andcommunicated to the initiated gaming device to be presented or displayedto the player. Central production or control can assist a gamingestablishment or other entity in maintaining appropriate records,controlling gaming, reducing and preventing cheating or electronic orother errors, reducing or eliminating win-loss volatility and the like.

In another embodiment, a predetermined game outcome value is determinedfor each of a plurality of linked or networked gaming devices based onthe results of a bingo, keno or lottery game. In this embodiment, eachindividual gaming device utilizes one or more bingo, keno or lotterygames to determine the predetermined game outcome value provided to theplayer for the interactive game played at that gaming device. In oneembodiment, the bingo, keno or lottery game is displayed to the player.In another embodiment, the bingo, keno or lottery game is not displayedto the player, but the results of the bingo, keno or lottery gamedetermine the predetermined game outcome value for the primary orsecondary game.

In the various bingo embodiments, as each gaming device is enrolled inthe bingo game, such as upon an appropriate wager or engaging an inputdevice, the enrolled gaming device is provided or associated with adifferent bingo card. Each bingo card consists of a matrix or array ofelements, wherein each element is designated with a separate indicia,such as a number. It should be appreciated that each different bingocard includes a different combination of elements. For example, if fourbingo cards are provided to four enrolled gaming devices, the sameelement may be present on all four of the bingo cards while anotherelement may solely be present on one of the bingo cards.

In operation of these embodiments, upon providing or associating adifferent bingo card to each of a plurality of enrolled gaming devices,the central controller randomly selects or draws, one at a time, aplurality of the elements. As each element is selected, a determinationis made for each gaming device as to whether the selected element ispresent on the bingo card provided to that enrolled gaming device. Thisdetermination can be made by the central controller, the gaming device,a combination of the two, or in any other suitable manner. If theselected element is present on the bingo card provided to that enrolledgaming device, that selected element on the provided bingo card ismarked or flagged. This process of selecting elements and marking anyselected elements on the provided bingo cards continues until one ormore predetermined patterns are marked on one or more of the providedbingo cards. It should be appreciated that in one embodiment, the gamingdevice requires the player to engage a daub button (not shown) toinitiate the process of the gaming device marking or flagging anyselected elements.

After one or more predetermined patterns are marked on one or more ofthe provided bingo cards, a game outcome is determined for each of theenrolled gaming devices based, at least in part, on the selectedelements on the provided bingo cards. As described above, the gameoutcome determined for each gaming device enrolled in the bingo game isutilized by that gaming device to determine the predetermined gameoutcome provided to the player. For example, a first gaming device tohave selected elements marked in a predetermined pattern is provided afirst outcome of win $10 which will be provided to a first playerregardless of how the first player plays in a first game and a secondgaming device to have selected elements marked in a differentpredetermined pattern is provided a second outcome of win $2 which willbe provided to a second player regardless of how the second player playsa second game. It should be appreciated that as the process of markingselected elements continues until one or more predetermined patterns aremarked, this embodiment ensures that at least one bingo card will winthe bingo game and thus at least one enrolled gaming device will providea predetermined winning game outcome to a player. It should beappreciated that other suitable methods for selecting or determining oneor more predetermined game outcomes may be employed.

In one example of the above-described embodiment, the predetermined gameoutcome may be based on a supplemental award in addition to any awardprovided for winning the bingo game as described above. In thisembodiment, if one or more elements are marked in supplemental patternswithin a designated number of drawn elements, a supplemental orintermittent award or value associated with the marked supplementalpattern is provided to the player as part of the predetermined gameoutcome. For example, if the four corners of a bingo card are markedwithin the first twenty selected elements, a supplemental award of $10is provided to the player as part of the predetermined game outcome. Itshould be appreciated that in this embodiment, the player of a gamingdevice may be provided a supplemental or intermittent award regardlessof if the enrolled gaming device's provided bingo card wins or does notwin the bingo game as described above.

In another embodiment, one or more of the gaming devices are incommunication with a central server or controller for monitoringpurposes only. That is, each individual gaming device randomly generatesthe game outcomes to be provided to the player and the central server orcontroller monitors the activities and events occurring on the pluralityof gaming devices. In one embodiment, the gaming network includes areal-time or on-line accounting and gaming information system operablycoupled to the central server or controller. The accounting and gaminginformation system of this embodiment includes a player database forstoring player profiles, a player tracking module for tracking playersand a credit system for providing automated casino transactions.

In one embodiment, the gaming device disclosed herein is associated withor otherwise integrated with one or more player tracking systems. Playertracking systems enable gaming establishments to recognize the value ofcustomer loyalty through identifying frequent customers and rewardingthem for their patronage. In one embodiment, the gaming device and/orplayer tracking system tracks any players gaming activity at the gamingdevice. In one such embodiment, the gaming device includes at least onecard reader 38 in communication with the processor. In this embodiment,a player is issued a player identification card which has an encodedplayer identification number that uniquely identifies the player. When aplayer inserts their playing tracking card into the card reader to begina gaming session, the card reader reads the player identification numberoff the player tracking card to identify the player. The gaming deviceand/or associated player tracking system timely tracks any suitableinformation or data relating to the identified player's gaming session.Directly or via the central controller, the gaming device processorcommunicates such information to the player tracking system. The gamingdevice and/or associated player tracking system also timely tracks whena player removes their player tracking card when concluding play forthat gaming session. In another embodiment, rather than requiring aplayer to insert a player tracking card, the gaming device utilizes oneor more portable devices carried by a player, such as a cell phone, aradio frequency identification tag or any other suitable wireless deviceto track when a player begins and ends a gaming session. In anotherembodiment, the gaming device utilizes any suitable biometric technologyor ticket technology to track when a player begins and ends a gamingsession.

During one or more gaming sessions, the gaming device and/or playertracking system tracks any suitable information or data, such as anyamounts wagered, average wager amounts and/or the time these wagers areplaced. In different embodiments, for one or more players, the playertracking system includes the player's account number, the player's cardnumber, the player's first name, the player's surname, the player'spreferred name, the player's player tracking ranking, any promotionstatus associated with the player's player tracking card, the player'saddress, the player's birthday, the player's anniversary, the player'srecent gaming sessions, or any other suitable data. In one embodiment,such tracked information and/or any suitable feature associated with theplayer tracking system is displayed on a player tracking display 40. Inanother embodiment, such tracked information and/or any suitable featureassociated with the player tracking system is displayed via one or moreservice windows (not shown) which are displayed on the central displaydevice and/or the upper display device.

In one embodiment, a plurality of the gaming devices are capable ofbeing connected together through a data network. In one embodiment, thedata network is a local area network (LAN), in which one or more of thegaming devices are substantially proximate to each other and an on-sitecentral server or controller as in, for example, a gaming establishmentor a portion of a gaming establishment. In another embodiment, the datanetwork is a wide area network (WAN) in which one or more of the gamingdevices are in communication with at least one off-site central serveror controller. In this embodiment, the plurality of gaming devices maybe located in a different part of the gaming establishment or within adifferent gaming establishment than the off-site central server orcontroller. Thus, the WAN may include an off-site central server orcontroller and an off-site gaming device located within gamingestablishments in the same geographic area, such as a city or state. TheWAN gaming system may be substantially identical to the LAN gamingsystem described above, although the number of gaming devices in eachsystem may vary relative to each other.

In another embodiment, the data network is an internet or intranet. Inthis embodiment, the operation of the gaming device can be viewed at thegaming device with at least one internet browser. In this embodiment,operation of the gaming device and accumulation of credits may beaccomplished with only a connection to the central server or controller(the internet/intranet server) through a conventional phone or otherdata transmission line, digital subscriber line (DSL), T-1 line, coaxialcable, fiber optic cable, or other suitable connection. In thisembodiment, players may access an internet game page from any locationwhere an internet connection and computer, or other internet facilitatoris available. The expansion in the number of computers and number andspeed of internet connections in recent years increases opportunitiesfor players to play from an ever-increasing number of remote sites. Itshould be appreciated that enhanced bandwidth of digital wirelesscommunications may render such technology suitable for some or allcommunications, particularly if such communications are encrypted.Higher data transmission speeds may be useful for enhancing thesophistication and response of the display and interaction with theplayer.

As mentioned above, in one embodiment, the present disclosure may beemployed in a server based gaming system. In one such embodiment, asdescribed above, one or more gaming devices are in communication with acentral server or controller. The central server or controller may beany suitable server or computing device which includes at least oneprocessor and a memory or storage device. In alternative embodiments,the central server is a progressive controller or another gaming machinein the gaming system. In one embodiment, the memory device of thecentral server stores different game programs and instructions,executable by a gaming device processor, to control the gaming device.Each executable game program represents a different game or type of gamewhich may be played on one or more of the gaming devices in the gamingsystem. Such different games may include the same or substantially thesame game play with different pay tables. In different embodiments, theexecutable game program is for a primary game, a secondary game or both.In another embodiment, the game program may be executable as a secondarygame to be played simultaneous with the play of a primary game (whichmay be downloaded to or fixed on the gaming device) or vice versa.

In this embodiment, each gaming device at least includes one or moredisplay devices and/or one or more input devices for interaction with aplayer. A local processor, such as the above-described gaming deviceprocessor or a processor of a local server, is operable with the displaydevice(s) and/or the input device(s) of one or more of the gamingdevices.

In operation, the central controller is operable to communicate one ormore of the stored game programs to at least one local processor. Indifferent embodiments, the stored game programs are communicated ordelivered by embedding the communicated game program in a device or acomponent (e.g., a microchip to be inserted in a gaming device), writingthe game program on a disc or other media, downloading or streaming thegame program over a dedicated data network, internet or a telephoneline. After the stored game programs are communicated from the centralserver, the local processor executes the communicated program tofacilitate play of the communicated program by a player through thedisplay device(s) and/or input device(s) of the gaming device. That is,when a game program is communicated to a local processor, the localprocessor changes the game or type of game played at the gaming device.

In another embodiment, a plurality of gaming devices at one or moregaming sites may be networked to the central server in a progressiveconfiguration, as known in the art, wherein a portion of each wager toinitiate a base or primary game may be allocated to one or moreprogressive awards. In one embodiment, a progressive gaming system hostsite computer is coupled to a plurality of the central servers at avariety of mutually remote gaming sites for providing a multi-sitelinked progressive automated gaming system. In one embodiment, aprogressive gaming system host site computer may serve gaming devicesdistributed throughout a number of properties at different geographicallocations including, for example, different locations within a city ordifferent cities within a state.

In one embodiment, the progressive gaming system host site computer ismaintained for the overall operation and control of the progressivegaming system. In this embodiment, a progressive gaming system host sitecomputer oversees the entire progressive gaming system and is the masterfor computing all progressive jackpots. All participating gaming sitesreport to, and receive information from, the progressive gaming systemhost site computer. Each central server computer is responsible for alldata communication between the gaming device hardware and software andthe progressive gaming system host site computer. In one embodiment, anindividual gaming machine may trigger a progressive award win. Inanother embodiment, a central server (or the progressive gaming systemhost site computer) determines when a progressive award win istriggered. In another embodiment, an individual gaming machine and acentral controller (or progressive gaming system host site computer)work in conjunction with each other to determine when a progressive winis triggered, for example through an individual gaming machine meeting apredetermined requirement established by the central controller.

In one embodiment, a progressive award win is triggered based on one ormore game play events, such as a symbol-driven trigger. In otherembodiments, the progressive award triggering event or qualifyingcondition may be by exceeding a certain amount of game play (such asnumber of games, number of credits, or amount of time), or reaching aspecified number of points earned during game play. In anotherembodiment, a gaming device is randomly or apparently randomly selectedto provide a player of that gaming device one or more progressiveawards. In one such embodiment, the gaming device does not provide anyapparent reasons to the player for winning a progressive award, whereinwinning the progressive award is not triggered by an event in or basedspecifically on any of the plays of any primary game. That is, a playeris provided a progressive award without any explanation or alternativelywith simple explanations. In another embodiment, a player is provided aprogressive award at least partially based on a game triggered or symboltriggered event, such as at least partially based on the play of aprimary game.

In one embodiment, one or more of the progressive awards are each fundedvia a side bet or side wager. In this embodiment, a player must place orwager a side bet to be eligible to win the progressive award associatedwith the side bet. In one embodiment, the player must place the maximumbet and the side bet to be eligible to win one of the progressiveawards. In another embodiment, if the player places or wagers therequired side bet, the player may wager at any credit amount during theprimary game (i.e., the player need not place the maximum bet and theside bet to be eligible to win one of the progressive awards). In onesuch embodiment, the greater the player's wager (in addition to theplaced side bet), the greater the odds or probability that the playerwill win one of the progressive awards. It should be appreciated thatone or more of the progressive awards may each be funded, at least inpart, based on the wagers placed on the primary games of the gamingmachines in the gaming system, via a gaming establishment or via anysuitable manner.

In another embodiment, one or more of the progressive awards arepartially funded via a side-bet or side-wager which the player may make(and which may be tracked via a side-bet meter). In one embodiment, oneor more of the progressive awards are funded with only side-bets orside-wagers placed. In another embodiment, one or more of theprogressive awards are funded based on player's wagers as describedabove as well as any side-bets or side-wagers placed.

In one alternative embodiment, a minimum wager level is required for agaming device to qualify to be selected to obtain one of the progressiveawards. In one embodiment, this minimum wager level is the maximum wagerlevel for the primary game in the gaming machine. In another embodiment,no minimum wager level is required for a gaming machine to qualify to beselected to obtain one of the progressive awards.

In another embodiment, a plurality of players at a plurality of linkedgaming devices in a gaming system participate in a group gamingenvironment. In one embodiment, a plurality of players at a plurality oflinked gaming devices work in conjunction with one another, such asplaying together as a team or group, to win one or more awards. In onesuch embodiment, any award won by the group is shared, either equally orbased on any suitable criteria, amongst the different players of thegroup. In another embodiment, a plurality of players at a plurality oflinked gaming devices compete against one another for one or moreawards. In one such embodiment, a plurality of players at a plurality oflinked gaming devices participate in a gaming tournament for one or moreawards. In another embodiment, a plurality of players at a plurality oflinked gaming devices play for one or more awards wherein an outcomegenerated by one gaming device affects the outcomes generated by one ormore linked gaming devices.

Player Physical Activation of Mechanical Symbol Generator

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a method of randomly indicating anaward of a symbol generator where the player initiates the movement ofthe symbol generator. As illustrated in FIG. 3, in one embodiment, thegaming system enables a player to physically move, spin or actuate amechanical symbol generator which includes a plurality of stop positionsas illustrated in block 100. In one embodiment, a plurality or all ofthe stop positions are associated with symbols and/or sections of thesymbol generator. In one embodiment, after the player physically movesthe symbol generator the gaming system determines whether the symbolgenerator has moved a required amount, a required number of rotations orat a required speed. After the symbol generator begins moving, thegaming system randomly determines a stop position as illustrated inblock 102. That is, after the player physically initiates movement ofthe symbol generator, the gaming system randomly determines a stopposition of the symbol generator to be located in a predeterminedlocation once the symbol generator stops moving. The gaming systemcontinues movement of the symbol generator by moving the symbolgenerator as illustrated in block 104. The gaming system inhibits andstops the movement of the symbol generator such that the stop positionis located in a predetermined location as illustrated in block 106. Inone embodiment, the predetermined location is associated with anindicator. For example, the gaming system stops the symbol generatorfrom moving such that the stop position is aligned with the indicator.In another embodiment, the gaming system stops the symbol generator frommoving such that the stop position is in a position separate from anindicator but the indicator indicates a symbol or section of the symbolgenerator. It should be appreciated that the stop positions may beassociated with the symbols or outcomes of the symbol generator. In oneembodiment, the stop positions are each associated with a single sectionor a single symbol of the symbol generator.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D, in one embodiment, themechanical symbol generator 60 a includes a plurality of sections 110 a,110 b, 110 c, 110 d, 110 e, 110 f, 110 g, and 110 h which each includeor are associated with a symbol 112 a, 112 b, 112 c, 112 d, 112 e, 112f, 112 g and 112 h. The symbol generator is associated with an indicator62 a and includes a handle 64. Though the handle in the illustratedembodiment is parallel to the wheel it should be appreciated that thehandle may be connected to the wheel in any suitable manner and may bepositioned in any suitable way to the wheel. A drive motor is coupled tothe wheel and a position sensor is coupled to the drive motor or thewheel. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the gaming device instructs the playerto spin the wheel. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the player grasps thehandle of the wheel with his or her hand and spins the wheel. Asillustrated in FIG. 4C, the wheel begins spinning. In one embodiment,the wheel must spin a certain number of rotations and/or at a certainspeed for the game to occur. In this embodiment, the gaming devicedetermines if the certain speed or certain number of rotations has beenmet. If the certain speed or certain number of rotations has not beenmet, the gaming device instructs the player to spin again. If thecertain speed or certain number of rotations has been met, as the wheelspins, the gaming device determines one of the symbols or sections toindicate. In the illustrated embodiment, the gaming device determines toindicate the 250 symbol 112 e or section 110 e. The gaming devicecontinues movement of the wheel. That is, the drive motor of the wheelcontinues movement of the wheel and either gradually decays movement ofthe wheel or a brake slows or stops movement of the wheel such that the250 symbol 112 e or section 110 is indicated by the indicator 62 a asillustrated in FIG. 4D. The gaming device then provides the player anaward based on the indicated section and/or symbol of the wheel. Forexample, in the illustrated embodiment, the gaming device provides theplayer an award of 250 credits.

In one embodiment, the gaming device includes a plurality of symbolgenerators. In one embodiment, the gaming device enables the player toactuate a plurality of the symbol generators. For example, in one suchembodiment, the gaming device enables the player to actuate the firstsymbol generator. In one embodiment, each of the symbol generators mustspin a certain number of rotations and/or at a certain speed for thegame to occur. In this embodiment, the gaming device determines if thecertain speed or certain number of rotations has been met. If thecertain speed or certain number of rotations has not been met, thegaming device instructs the player to spin again. If the certain speedor certain number of rotations has been met, as the symbol generatorspins, the gaming device determines one of the symbols or sections toindicate. After the symbol generator stops moving and the gaming deviceindicates the symbol or section, the gaming device enables the player tospin the next symbol generator. This process continues until a playeractuates a designated number or all of the symbol generators.

In another embodiment, the gaming device includes a plurality of symbolgenerators. In one such embodiment, the gaming device enables the playerto actuate less than all of the symbol generators. In one suchembodiment, the player initiates the spinning of one of the symbolgenerators and then the gaming machine initiates the spinning of theother symbol generators, determines a symbol to indicate for each of thesymbol generators and causes each symbol generator to indicate thedetermined symbol. In another embodiment, the gaming device enables theplayer to actuate less than all of the symbol generators. In one suchembodiment, the player spins the symbol generator and then the gamingmachine initiates the spinning of some but not all of the other symbolgenerators, determines a symbol to indicate for each of the spinningsymbol generators and causes each spinning symbol generator to indicatethe determined symbol. In one embodiment, the gaming device uses theplayer's movement of the first symbol generator to determine a functionof the movement of the other gaming device initiated symbol generators.For example, the gaming device causes one of the gaming device initiatedsymbol generators to spin in the same direction as the player initiatedsymbol generator. In another example, the gaming device causes thegaming device initiated symbol generator to reach a same maximum speedas the speed reached by the player movement of the player initiatedsymbol generator. The gaming device may initiate movement of the symbolgenerators in any suitable manner and may base the movement on anysuitable factor.

In certain embodiments, the gaming device includes one or more securingdevices or mechanisms which prevent the player from interfering with themovement of the symbol generator after it begins moving. That is, thegaming device prevents the player from touching, stopping, furtherspinning or further actuating the symbol generator while the symbolgenerator is moving. As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, in oneembodiment, the symbol actuator is located on cabinet of the gamingdevice behind a protective cover 66 such as a plastic cover. Theprotective cover 66 defines one or more openings 68 that enable theplayer to actuate the symbol generator. As illustrated in FIG. 5A, inone embodiment, the handle 64 extends from the symbol generator 60 athrough the opening in the protective cover such that the gaming deviceenables the player to actuate the symbol generator using the handle. Asillustrated in FIG. 5B, in one embodiment, the gaming device retracts ormoves the symbol generator such that the handle of the symbol generatoris behind the protective cover and unreachable. In one such embodiment,the symbol generator moves back or retracts such that the player cannottouch the symbol generator at all.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, in one embodiment, the gaming deviceincludes a protective cover defining an opening 68. After the playerinitiates movement of the symbol generator, the gaming device closes theopening so that a player may not interfere with or influence themovement of the symbol generator. As illustrated in FIG. 6A, theprotective cover 66 defines an opening 68 for the handle 64 to extendthrough the symbol generator. As illustrated in FIG. 6B, in oneembodiment, after the player initiates spinning of the symbol generator,the gaming device retracts the handle behind the protective cover andcloses the opening 68 of the protective cover such that the player maynot touch the symbol generator 60 a or the handle 64 of the symbolgenerator.

It should be appreciated that the gaming device may include any suitablesecuring mechanism, cover or device to ensure that a player may notaffect the movement of the stopping of the symbol generator once thesymbol generator starts moving. For example, the gaming device may raisethe height of the symbol generator such that most people would not beable to reach the symbol generator. In one embodiment, the gaming deviceincludes a locking mechanism so that a player may not move the symbolgenerator once the symbol generator begins moving. In anotherembodiment, after the player initiates movement of the symbol generator,the gaming device surrounds the symbol generator with a protectivecover.

In another embodiment, the gaming device or system includes at least onemechanical movable indicator or pointer. In one such embodiment, thegaming device or system enables the player to physically move theindicator. In one embodiment, the indicator includes a handle. Thegaming device or system enables the player to move the handle of theindicator to physically and directly move the indicator.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate an embodiment where the gaming device enablesa player to physically move an indicator. In one such embodiment, thesymbol generator does not move. As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the gamingdevice enables the player to physically spin the indicator. Asillustrated in FIG. 7B, the player spins the indicator 62 c. In oneembodiment, the indicator must spin a certain number of rotations and/orat a certain speed for the game to occur. In this embodiment, the gamingdevice determines if the certain speed or certain number of rotationshas been met. If the certain speed or certain number of rotations hasnot been met, the gaming device instructs the player to spin theindicator again. If the certain speed or certain number of rotations hasbeen met, as the indicator spins, in one embodiment the gaming devicedetermines one of the symbols or sections to indicate. In theillustrated embodiment, the gaming device determines to indicate the 200symbol or section 120.

As illustrated in FIG. 7C, the indicator spins around the wheel. Asillustrated in FIG. 7D, the indicator stops to indicate the section 120associated with the 200 symbol. The gaming device informs the playerthat the player wins 200 credits.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D and 8E in one embodiment, thegaming device enables the player to spin the indicator or the symbolgenerator. The gaming device then spins whichever of the indicator orthe symbol generator is not spun by the player. That is, the gamingdevice initiates the spinning or moving of the symbol generator or thestationary indicator, whichever is stationary. The gaming device maycause or enable the symbol generator or the indicator to be spunsimultaneously or sequentially. The gaming device determines a sectionor symbol to indicate before, during or after the player physicallyinitiates the movement of the symbol generator or the indicator.

As illustrated in FIG. 8A, the gaming system instructs the player tophysically spin the wheel or the indicator and that the gaming devicewill spin the other or non-spun device. As illustrated in FIG. 8B, theplayer uses a handle 130 attached to the indicator 62 c to spin theindicator. It should be appreciated that the indicator may or may notinclude or be attached to a handle and may include or be attached to anysuitable device which enables the player to more easily spin the wheel.As illustrated in FIG. 8C, the indicator spins. In one embodiment, thegaming device determines a stop position for the indicator and causesthe indicator to stop at the determined stop position. In anotherembodiment, the gaming device enables the indicator to stop moving onits own. In the illustrated embodiment, the gaming device determines toindicate an award of 100.

As illustrated in FIG. 8D, the gaming device causes the wheel to spin.In the illustrated embodiment, the gaming device causes the wheel tospin as the indicator is spinning. In one embodiment, the gaming devicespins the other or unspun device at the speed of the player initiatedspun device. That is, if the player spins the indicator at a high speed,the gaming device spins the wheel at a high speed.

As illustrated in FIG. 8E, the indicator and the wheel stop spinning toindicate an award of 100. The indicator and the wheel may stop spinningor moving simultaneously or sequentially. The indicator and the wheelmay spin in the same or different directions.

It should be appreciated that the gaming device may spin the wheel andone or more indicators in any suitable manner and in any suitabledirections. The gaming device may cause the indicator and/or the symbolgenerator to stop at a certain position. In one embodiment, the gamingdevice designates one of the indicator or the symbol generator for theplayer to spin. In another embodiment, the gaming device enables theplayer to move or spin both the indicator and the symbol generator. Thegaming device causes the indication of a determined symbol or section bystopping one or both of the indicator and symbol generator such that thedetermined symbol or section is indicated. In one embodiment, the gamingdevice causes or enables one of the indicator or symbol generator tostop before initiating the movement of the unspun device. In anotherembodiment, the gaming device initiates movement of one of the indicatoror symbol generator before enabling the player to move the other of theindicator or symbol generator. In one embodiment, the gaming deviceincludes one or more devices to slow the movement of one of the spundevices. It should be appreciated that the gaming device may determinewhich symbol or section to indicate at any suitable time.

It should be appreciated that the indicator may be any suitable size andshape. It should also be appreciated that the gaming device and/orsystem may include any suitable number of indicators. The gaming systemmay enable the player to move one or a plurality of indicators.

It should be appreciated that the gaming system or device may indicateone or more symbols, outcomes or sections of one or more symbolgenerators to a player in any suitable manner. In one embodiment, thesymbol generator is associated with multiple indicators. In one suchembodiment, the gaming device or system indicates multiple outcomes orsymbols. In one embodiment, the gaming device bases an award on all ofthe indicated symbols. In another embodiment, the gaming device thenfurther indicates one of the symbols and bases an award for the playeron that indicated symbol. In one embodiment, the gaming device or systemincludes multiple pointers or indicators for simultaneously indicatingdifferent sections or symbols. In another embodiment, the symbolgenerator is associated with a single indicator. In one embodiment, thegaming device indicates a symbol or a section through illumination ofthe section or a symbol or an indicator associated with one of thesections or symbols.

It should be appreciated that the symbol generator may move or spin inany direction and for any suitable length of time.

It should be appreciated that the symbol generator may be positioned inany suitable manner relative to one or more gaming devices. In oneembodiment, a symbol generator is horizontally disposed and parallel tothe ground. In another embodiment, a symbol generator is verticallydisposed and parallel to the walls. It should be appreciated that one ormore symbol generators may be associated with one or more gaming devicesin any suitable manner.

As illustrated in FIG. 9A, in one embodiment, the gaming system includesan electromechanical shared symbol generator or display that ispositioned adjacent to each of a plurality of associated gaming devices,such as the symbol generator described in U.S. Published PatentApplication No. 2006/0046821, entitled “GAMING SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLEGAMING DEVICES THAT SHARE A MULTI-OUTCOME DISPLAY.”

As illustrated in FIG. 9A, one embodiment of the gaming system 200employs a shared multi-outcome symbol display or shared symbol generator202. The primary components of multi-player gaming system 200 include aplurality of individual gaming devices 212 a to 212 i. In oneembodiment, the gaming devices 212 a through 212 i are spaced apartabout shared display 202 via spacer assemblies 204 a to 204 i (referredto herein collectively as spacer assemblies 204 or generally as spacerassembly 204). In one embodiment, shared display 202 includes a displaytop 206, which is viewable by each of the players playing gaming devices212. Display top 206 is divided into a plurality of award, outcome orsymbol panels 208 a to 208 aa (referred to herein collectively as panels208 or generally as panel 208).

A plurality or each of the panels 208 displays one or more symbolsrepresenting an outcome such as an award, which any player of gamingdevices 212 may win via bonus play. In the illustrated embodiment, thepanels 208 and thus the values displayed thereon are fixed spatiallywith respect to one another. Thus, while two or more players may sharein a same bonus event, each player playing the bonus is provided anindividual outcome or award from a separate panel 208. It should also beappreciated from FIG. 9A that even if a player playing one of the gamingdevices 212 is not participating in a particular bonus, the shareddisplay 202 will still generate an outcome in association with thenon-participating gaming device 212, increasing fun and excitement forplayers who have not even triggered the bonus. In the illustratedembodiment, each time the shared display is activated it generates anindividual outcome for each gaming device in the system.

FIG. 9A also illustrates that in one embodiment, the gaming devices eachhave an indicator (i.e., indicators 210 a to 210 i-referred to hereincollectively as indicators 210 or generally as indicator 210).Indicators 210 respectively reside on the top of each gaming device 212and point to or indicate one of the awards or outcomes on top 206 ofshared display 202 when the shared display stops spinning to revealrandomly or otherwise generated results or outcomes. In differentembodiments, indicators 210 are illuminated differently at differenttimes or states for the gaming device 212. The illumination of theindicator in one embodiment depends upon whether the gaming device 210is playing the base game, is in a state in which the player is eligibleto play the shared display bonus, is in a state in which the player hascommitted to play the shared display bonus or is in a state in which theplayer has declined to play a particular upcoming shared display bonus,as well as other states discussed below.

If should thus be appreciated thus be appreciated that in theillustrated embodiment, the shared display or the symbol generator is arelatively large, substantially horizontally disposed wheel having aplurality of individual sections and symbols which represent theindividual outcomes in the form of values displayed on each section. Inone such embodiment, the gaming devices are positioned and spaced apartsubstantially equally about the perimeter of the wheel. The individualoutcome or values on the wheel are fixed relative to each other.

In one embodiment, after at least one of the gaming devices achieves acertain outcome, such as a bonus trigger, in its respective base game,the gaming system enables one of the players (i.e., the player of thetriggering gaming machine), to physically spin the shared symbolgenerator. It should be appreciated that the shared symbol generatorincludes a suitable mechanism or device to enable each of the players tospin the shared symbol generator. In one such embodiment, a plurality ofhandles such as pegs 209 a to 209 i enable the player to physically movethe shared symbol generator. The gaming system then determines one ofthe outcomes or sections of the shared symbol generator to indicate. Thegaming system continues the spinning of the shared symbol generator andstops the spinning of the shared symbol generator such that thedetermined symbol or section is indicated and simultaneously generates aseparate or individual outcome associated with each of the gamingdevices.

More specifically, in one such embodiment, each gaming device 212includes a processor. As illustrated in FIG. 9B, the processor in eachgaming device 212 is then linked to a server computer or centralcontroller 264 via a communication link 262. In one embodiment, thecentral controller 264 in turn controls a shared multi-outcome symboldisplay controller 220. The display controller controls such things asthe one or more large video displays 222 and one or more motors ormotion producing devices driving shared display 202.

In one embodiment, the display controller also controls the topperlights 226 and a separate topper motor controller 230, for example, whenthe game recognition portion of the topper rotates independent from thedisplay motor controller 230. The display controller can include anonboard sound chip or alternatively communicate with a separate soundcard 232. In either case, each of the game-linking systems have in oneembodiment a separate set of speakers 234 from the speakers of thegaming devices to produce separate audio. In one embodiment, the displaycontroller communicates via link 236 with central controller 264 throughany of the modes described above for link 262. As seen, the displaycontroller is an additional spoke along with gaming devices 212 a to 212c from central hub or controller 264.

In an alternative embodiment illustrated by the dashed serial link 238,display controller is linked serially or in a daisy chain with gamingdevices 212 a, 212 b, 212 c, etc. Here, the gaming devices communicatewith each other and display controller via the serial link 238, in whicheach gaming device 212 as well as display controller has a separate anddistinct address along loop 238. It should be appreciated that links 88and 96 can be any type of local area link, wide area link, T-1 line,microwave link, radio frequency link, a fiber-optic link, cable linkage,digital satellite link, internet link and any suitable combinationthereof.

It should be appreciated that any of the shared displays can becontrolled and operated from a remote location, the results of which aredisplayed at one or more desired places within one or more casinos orgaming establishments. For example, a central controller can generatethe outcome or outcomes and distribute a display of those outcomes tomultiple banks of gaming devices, wherein those banks can include anintermediate central controller, such as controller 264, which thendownloads the information (i) to the display devices of individualgaming devices 212, (ii) to one of the electromechanical outcomedisplays 202, or (iii) to a large display 222 associated with a bank ofgaming devices.

The outcomes can be the same for two or more of the gaming devices orcan be different for two or more or each of the gaming devices. In oneembodiment, the shared symbol generator generates and associates anindividual outcome with each associated gaming device.

In one embodiment, the associated gaming devices or gaming machines areeach provided with a bonus indicator, such as one or more lights, analarm or siren, which visually and/or audibly informs the players towatch for an upcoming outcome generation of the shared symbol generator.When multiple gaming devices are eligible to participate in the outcomegeneration, multiple lights, alarms or sirens are activated, indicatingthat the next generation will provide outcomes to multiple eligiblegaming devices or that the shared display will be activated multipletimes. In one embodiment, the gaming system only enables the triggeringplayer to physically move or spin the shared symbol generator. It shouldbe appreciated that the gaming system may enable any eligible player tospin or move the shared symbol generator in accordance with any suitablecriteria. It should be appreciated that the gaming system may determinewhich player of a plurality of players spins the shared symbol generatorin accordance with any suitable criteria, including but not limited to:(a) wagers placed; (b) player tracking statistics; (c) an order oftriggering the bonus event; (d) a primary game event; (e) a primary gameoutcome; (f) total amount wagered by the players; and (g) any suitablecombination thereof.

Referring now to FIGS. 10A to 11C, embodiments for the mechanical andstructural support, wheel top, the protective cover and the indicators210 a to 210 i of the shared displays 202 and associated systems of oneembodiment are illustrated. The structural elements are shown for ashared display and system having nine gaming devices, 212 a to 212 i, asseen in FIG. 10A and twenty-seven symbol panels or value areas 208 a to208 aa, as seen in FIGS. 11A and 11B. FIG. 10A has differentlyconfigured indicators illustrating that the indicators, which may beshaped as desired. The indicators may be configured or shaped in anysuitable manner. The apparatuses can be adapted however for any suitableamount of gaming devices 212 and display panels 208.

FIGS. 10A to 10C illustrate a structural framework 220 or part thereof,which is seen in FIG. 10A when a display top 206 (shown in FIGS. 11A and11B) is removed. Structural framework 220 includes a plurality ofsubstantially horizontally disposed members 222, a plurality ofsubstantially vertically disposed members 224 and a plurality of steppedsupports 226 that are disposed on an angle with respect to members 222and members 224. Members 222 and 224 and stepped supports 226 can be anysuitable structural material, such as metal, plastic, wood or anycombination thereof. The material in one preferred embodiment is strong,e.g., steel or aluminum. For reference, FIG. 10B also illustrates anoptical wheel 230, which in one embodiment is located between a motor244 the top 206 of shared display 202. Optical wheel 230 providespositional feedback information as discussed below.

As seen in FIGS. 10A and 10B, framework 220 in general includes an innerpolygonal shell and an outer polygonal shell of the horizontal members222 and vertical members 224. In one embodiment, the inner and outerpolygonal shells are fastened together via additional horizontal members222. Stepped supports 226 extend from the outer polygonal shell to theinner polygonal shell. Motor mount 228 can be coupled to the verticalmembers 224 and/or horizontal members 222 that make up the innerpolygonal shell of frame 220. Motor mount 228 receives a motor 244extending downwardly from display top 206 shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B andsupports motor 244 and display top.

FIG. 10C illustrates one embodiment for constructing framework 220.Here, framework 220 is made in three sections 220 a to 220 c. FIG. 10Cillustrates one section 220 a, which is substantially one third of theoverall framework 220. Section 220 a includes a section or third of theinner polygonal shell and a section or third of the outer polygonalshell described above. Section 220 a is easier to ship and transportthrough the casino than is full framework 220. Section 220 a is likelyto better withstand the rigors of shipping than is full framework 220.

Sections 220 a to 220 c are transported to the gaming establishment andbolted or welded together at the point of use to form framework 220. Inone embodiment, protective cover 238 is also assembled from threepieces. The gaming devices 212, spacer assemblies 204, topper 134,protective cover 238, large displays and other components of shareddisplay 202 or the gaming system can also be modular or at least partlyassembled at the point of use in one embodiment. Any other suitablemodifications can be made to the system to make shipping andtransporting system 200 (referring collectively to gaming systems 200 ato 200 f) as easy, safe and efficient as possible.

FIG. 10B also illustrates a plurality of elongated lights 232, which canbe fluorescent lights, a series of light emitting diodes (“LED's”), orother suitable type of lighting. Lights 232 can be white or colored andbe the same color or different colors. Lights 232 can be illuminatedcontinuously, semi-continuously or intermittently as desired. In theillustrated embodiment, lights 232 are positioned generallycircumferentially at various radial lengths from the center of framework220, which supports lights 232 (contrast with FIG. 10A where the lightsextend radially from center of framework 220). In this manner, lights232 run generally perpendicular to the longer dimension of panels 208.Positioning lights 232 in such a manner produces less shadowing and moreeven lighting beneath top 206 of shared display 202 than if lights 232are positioned radially with respect to framework 220. This advantage isalso evident when top 206 of display 202 is spinning.

FIGS. 11A to 11C illustrate the top 206, motor 244 and other relatedapparatus. Motor mount 228 of framework 220 (FIG. 10B) holds andsupports motor 244 and any suitable mechanical and electrical equipmentoperating with motor 244, such as a motor drive, a gearbox, and thelike. The motor drive can alternatively be housed inside one of thespacer assemblies 204 wherein the output of the motor is linkedmechanically to top 206.

In one embodiment, motor 244 is a large stepper motor or otherservo-type motor controlled by controller 224 that can accuratelyposition top 206 to show outcomes generated randomly for the shareddisplay. Stepper or servo motor 244 is controllable to set one or moreaccelerations and/or decelerations, one or more velocities, a number ofspins or distance traveled, a number of directional changes, and thelike. Top 206 can perform a complex sequence of stops, starts anddirection changes, or simply spin at different rates of speed and, forexample, ramp up and ramp down from and to a zero angular velocity,according to a desired linear or bell-type velocity curve. In anotherembodiment, motor 244 is a gear drive motor that runs until a signaltells a controller of the motor to stop. Controller generates suchsignal in one embodiment.

Shared display 202 also includes, in one embodiment, real or generatedsounds, such as ticking sounds, which accompany the spinning of top 206.The ticking sounds become more and less frequent as the top 206accelerates or decelerates, respectively, so that the player can audiblyand visually discern when top 206 is speeding up or slowing down.

FIG. 11A shows that top 206 includes nine dividers 240 dispersedradially equally beneath display areas 208 a to 208 aa. Dividers 240serve both structural and strengthening purposes and can aid inproviding feedback information to a controller of the system.

Dividers 240 can provide pulses or signals when sensed by a positioningdevice that is situated in a fixed relationship to top 206. One or moreof dividers 240 passing by the sensor can be sensed to determine anactual position and/or number of rotations of top 206. The actualpositional feedback can be used alone or in combination to determinewhen and where to stop a generation of outcomes on top 206, for example,to tell the controller of the gear drive motor to stop the motor. In analternative embodiment, the pulses generated from the sensing of one ofthe dividers 240 is used to compare against a number of step pulses orother electronic signals sent to the motor driving shaft 244 and top206. Control of the shared displays of the can be open loop, closed loopand/or a combination of both.

In one embodiment, an optical wheel 230 is connected directly orindirectly to and spins with the output shaft of motor 244. An opticalsensor 242 is fixed to motor mount 228 of framework 220 is used incombination with optical wheel 230 to send a signal indicating tocontrol server. The signal can be analog or digital and is indicative ofthe position of top 206 with respect to a home position. Optical wheel230, in one embodiment, includes a circumferential series of notches ofdiffering widths and frequencies, which create unique patterns of lightdetected by sensor 242 for various positions of top 206 with respect tothe sensor 242 and/or the home position. Optical wheel 230 sensor 242 inone embodiment form an absolute or incremental encoder as known to thoseof skill in the art.

After the player spins the shared display, the signal is used in oneembodiment in combination with a brake or clutch-brake assembly to stopmotor 244 and top 206 at the desired and generated position. The brakeand optical wheel 230 can also be used in combination with the geardrive motor or the stepper motor if needed. In one embodiment, the brakeis a fail safe brake that holds top 206 frictionally in place if poweris removed from the brake or upon a power down situation.

FIG. 11B illustrates a fully assembled top 206 from the topside orreverse side shown in FIG. 11A. FIG. 11B illustrates that panels 208 ato 208 aa are each separated from one another by an extruded brace 246.Also, a cover plate 254 is fitted at the end of each panel 208 to holdpanels within braces 246. Panels 208 a to 208 aa are colored translucentor a light transparent resistant thermoplastic in one embodiment andallow light from lights 232 (FIG. 10B) to illuminate the panels,selectively, continuously or semi-continuously.

Although not illustrated, panels 208 a to 208 aa display numbers orsymbols corresponding to awards or outcomes that may be provided to aplayer. The symbols can represent any suitable type of outcome, such asa vacation giveaway, merchandise, cash, monetary units, credits and thelike. The replaceable nature of the panels enables the award pool to bereadily updated so that the bonus game can periodically present a freshand variable set of awards. If panels 208 are updated, the paytables ofgaming devices 212 are updated accordingly. As discussed below, gamingsystem 200 provides a mechanism by which the new paytables can beregistered with bonus server 230.

FIG. 11B illustrates a cap 252, which covers the top and center of top206. Cap 252, in one embodiment, is a formed plated piece, which is atleast substantially opaque. Alternatively, cap 252 allows light fromlights 232 to illuminate the cap. Cap 252 hides the ends of panels 208and provides an aesthetically pleasing finish to top 206, which is avisual centerpiece of the shared display 202 of gaming system 200.

FIG. 11C illustrates section XIC taken from FIG. 11B. Panels 208 a and208 b, extruded brace 246 and cover plate 254 are shown in more detail.Extruded brace 246 defines grooves that accept panels 208 a and 208 b.The wedge shaped panels 208 can slide in and out when an associatedcover plate 254 is removed from an outer mounting ring 252. Outermounting ring 252 is fixed to the spoke-like braces 246. Outer mountingring 252 extends around the entire periphery of top 206 and includesholes (where separate fasteners 250 are used) or studs 250 that matewith aligned holes of cover plate 254. A finishing or acorn nut threadsonto studs or fasteners 250 to complete the fixing of plate 254 to outermounting ring 252, which in turn locks a panel 208 in place. Coverplates 254 are sized to fit between two extruded braces 246. Sectioningcover plates 254 enables the operator to remove only a desired one ormore cover plate 254 to remove and/or replace a desired one or morepanel 208.

It should be appreciated that a shared symbol generator may be but isnot limited to a wheel, a cone, a sphere, a reel, a ring, a disk, asphere containing a plurality of balls and a die. The shared symbolgenerator may have any suitable shape including but not limited to acone, a circle, a semi-circle, an oval, a rectangle, a triangle, ahexagon, an octagon, a pentagon, a diamond, a linear configuration, anindented oval, and a curved configuration. In one embodiment, the shareddisplay is a roulette wheel. In another embodiment, the shared displayis a bingo ball based number generator.

In another embodiment, the shared display includes a large sphere ordome surrounded by a bank of gaming machines. Each gaming machine has anindividual bonus game trigger which enables the player to play a slottotype bonus game. After triggering the bonus game, as soon as a playerpresses an activation button, a plurality of balls in the sphere startmoving around inside the sphere. A blower appears to move the balls. Themoving balls are for aesthetic purposes only and do not determine whichoutcome a player will receive. In one embodiment, each gaming machinehas a slotto type apparatus with a predetermined set of balls. After adesignated amount of time of the balls moving around inside the dome,one of the balls from the predetermined set of balls is selected by thegaming device or by a central controller and upon a player input, isindicated to the player via a vertically extending tube positioned underthe dome and in front of that gaming machine. The player is provided theaward associated with the ball indicated in the tube and the bonus gameends. The player may physically activate the blower or one or more ofthe balls in various embodiments.

It should be appreciated that the game including the symbol generatormay be a base game or a secondary game. A secondary game may betriggered based on an occurrence of any suitable triggering event.

It should be appreciated that the symbol generator may display anysuitable symbols. In one embodiment, the symbol generator displaysnumbers or symbols corresponding to awards or outcomes that the gamingdevice or system may provide to the player. In one embodiment, certainareas or sections of the symbol generator are blank and do not displaysymbols. The symbols can represent any suitable type of outcome, such asfree games, multipliers, vacation giveaways, merchandise, cash, monetaryunits, credits and the like.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present subjectmatter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is thereforeintended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appendedclaims.

1. A gaming system comprising: at least one display device; at least oneinput device; at least one processor; a wheel having a plurality ofsections, a plurality of the sections each including at least one of aplurality of symbols; and at least one memory device which stores aplurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least oneprocessor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at leastone display device, the at least one input device and the wheel to: (a)display a play of a primary game upon a wager by a player; (b) upon anoccurrence of a triggering event, enable the player to directlyphysically engage the wheel to cause the wheel to move; (c) randomlydetermine one of said sections of the wheel to indicate; (d) cause thewheel to slow down and stop the movement the wheel to cause anindication of the determined section based on the player's movement ofthe wheel and the determined section; and (e) provide the player a gameoutcome based on said symbol of said determined section.
 2. The gamingsystem of claim 1, wherein said at least one processor is operable withsaid wheel and a handle attached to the wheel to enable the player tomove the wheel after the occurrence of a triggering event in the primarygame.
 3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the wheel is configuredto rotate around a substantially vertical axis.
 4. The gaming system ofclaim 1, wherein the wheel is configured to rotate around asubstantially horizontal axis.
 5. The gaming system of claim 1, whichincludes a protective cover that at least partially covers the wheel. 6.The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when the instructions are executedby the at least one processor, the instructions cause the at least oneprocessor to, after the wheel starts moving, randomly determine one ofsaid sections of the wheel to indicate.
 7. The gaming system of claim 1,which includes a handle attached to and extending from the wheel.
 8. Amulti-player gaming system comprising: a plurality of individual gamingdevices, each individual gaming device including at least one displaydevice configured to display a primary game operable upon a wager by aplayer, each primary game including a triggering event; a symbolgenerator shared by the plurality of gaming devices, said shared symbolgenerator including a plurality of symbols; at least one processorconfigured to operate with said gaming devices and said shared symbolgenerator to: (a) after an occurrence of one of the triggering events,enable a player of one of the gaming devices to physically move theshared symbol generator; (b) randomly determine one of said symbols toindicate; (c) cause the shared symbol generator to continue moving toand then cause the shared symbol generator to stop moving to indicatesaid determined symbol based on the player's movement of the wheel andthe determined section; and (d) provide said player a bonus game outcomebased on said determined symbol.
 9. The multi-player gaming system ofclaim 8, wherein the shared symbol generator is configured to rotatearound a substantially vertical axis.
 10. The multi-player gaming systemof claim 8, wherein the shared symbol generator is configured to rotatearound a substantially horizontal axis.
 11. The multi-player gamingsystem of claim 8, wherein when the instructions are executed by the atleast one processor, the instructions cause the at least one processorto after said shared symbol generator starts moving randomly determineone of said sections of the shared symbol generator to indicate.
 12. Themulti-player gaming system of claim 8, which includes at least onehandle attached to and extending from said shared symbol generator. 13.The gaming device of claim 8, wherein the shared symbol generator isselected from the group consisting of a wheel, a cone, a sphere, a reel,a ring, a disk and a die.
 14. A gaming system comprising: at least oneinput device; at least one display device; at least one processor; awheel including a plurality of sections, a plurality of the sectionseach including at least one of a plurality of symbols; an indicator; andat least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions,which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at leastone processor to operate with the at least one display device, the atleast one input device, the wheel and the indicator to: (a) display aplay of a primary game upon a wager by a player; (b) upon an occurrenceof a triggering event, enable the player to: (i) physically engage thewheel to cause the wheel to move, or (ii) to physically engage theindicator to cause the indicator to move; (c) if the player physicallyengages the wheel, cause the indicator to move; (d) if the playerphysically engages the indicator, cause the wheel to move; (e) randomlydetermine one of said sections of the wheel to indicate; (f) cause atleast one of the wheel and the indicator to keep moving and stop anymovement of the wheel and the indicator to cause an indication of thedetermined section based on the determined section and the movement ofone of the indicator and wheel by the player; and (g) provide the playera game outcome based on said symbol of said determined section.
 15. Thegaming system of claim 14, wherein when the plurality of instructionsare executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least oneprocessor to, while at least one of the indicator or the wheel ismoving, randomly determine one of said sections of the wheel toindicate.
 16. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein when the pluralityof instructions are executed by the at least one processor, cause the atleast one processor to operate with the wheel and the indicator to stopthe movement of the wheel or the indicator while the other of the wheelor indicator is moving.
 17. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein whenthe plurality of instructions are executed by the at least oneprocessor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the wheeland the indicator if the player physically engages the wheel, to stopthe movement of the indicator.
 18. The gaming system of claim 14,wherein when the plurality of instructions are executed by the at leastone processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with thewheel and the indicator if the player physically engages the indicator,to stop the movement of the wheel.